Fluid-pressure horn



Nov. 20, 1928.

H. E. ANDERSON FLUID PRESSURE HORN Filed June 22, 1928 ECZ/Z BY I 10 5.

Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

i HAR LEY E. ANDERSON, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO GUSTIN-BACON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 01 MISSOURI.

FLUID-PRESSURE HORN.

Application filed June 22, 1928. Serial No. 287,626.

This invention relates to fluid pressure-operated signals and is designed more especially for use where a multiple tone or chord horn is desired, for example on automobiles and also for use on locomotives where a plurality of signals are particularly desirable with their bells or resonators so arranged as to not only project an audible signal in front and to the sides of the locomotive, but also rearwardly so that the train crew riding the cars or signalmen on the track to the rear of the train may hear the signals. The whistle or horn is of that general class embodying a resilient metal diaphragm normally in contact with the end of a soundtube or reed, the diaphragm being adapted to be displaced by a fluid under pressure to produce a rapid vibratory movement of the air column in the resonator or bell.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of such nature that a single unitary construction will provide operating apparatus for a multiplicity of resonators of the same or different tone, and also a construction in which the vibratory diaphragm may be adjusted or repaired without disconnection or unscrewing of the air supply line.

A still further object ofthe invention is to produce a construction in which a plurality of multiple devices may be readily secured in any desired position without the necessity of a large amount of pipe or air supply conduit work for connecting the whistles or signals to the source of compressed fluid supply, whereby it is possible to group or cluster a number of the signals in a very limited area and at the same time insure that the length of all supply lines shall be the same so the units shall simultaneously commence operation on the opening of the control valve.

The essential; feature of the invention rests in the=production of a body member adapted to be permanently fixed with relation to a source of compressed air or other suitable fluid, said body being formed with a plurality of air passages of equal length, and having a pluralit of diaphragm seats and means to detacha ly receive pressure chambers and sound tubes or reeds.

With the general objects named in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and organization of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood,

reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan'view of a pair of multiple devices of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged central horizontal section through one of the devices.

Figure 3 is an end view of the base or body of the horn with the diaphragm and pressure chamber removed.

In the said drawing, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, 1 indicates an attaching base whereby the whistle may be readily and conveniently secured in operative position. The base 1 is formed 'integrall with a circular horn or whistle body 2 provided with a nipple 3 for connection with a pipe 4 leading to any source of compressed air supply.

i The body 2 in alinement with the compressed air supply nipple is formed with a radially extending air passage 5 with which apair of oppositely extending air exits or escape orifices 6 communicate, the said orifices at their other ends discharging the air into circumferential channels or passageways 7, formed between the internally threaded portions 8 0f the body and a pair of projecting guiding and securing flanges 9 adapted to receive and retain on circular seats 10 formed in the body, a pair of gaskets 11 and relatively thin metal diaphragms 12. The body 2, inwardly of said diaphragm seats, is out awa to form recesses 13 within which air is trapped at atmospheric pressure to provide resilient cushions for the vibrating diaphragms as will hereinafter appear. It will be noted in this connection that care must be takenthat the diaphragms fit perfectly tight on their seats 10 as otherwise air under pressure from the passageways 7 will leak into the chambers 13 and the operation of the whistles or signals will cease just as soon as the pressure on opposite sides of the diaphragms attains the same value. It is not essential to the proper operation of the mechanism however, that the body or partition 14 between the chambers 13 shall be imperforate as it has been found that such division portion may be entirely omit-ted and the signals will still operate successfully as long as there is no leakage of air behind the diaphragms.

To tightly clam the gaskets 11 and the diaphragms 12 a ter they have first been placed in position, pressure housings or 'chambers 15 having reduced threaded rearflanges 17 will abut the-dlaphragms before any other parts can come in contact, it being noted that the flanges are provided with grooves 18 to accommodate the shoulders 9 and avoid contact, and also that the threaded portion can never entirely close the air passageway or channel 7.

It will be noted that the pressure chambers 15 are formed at their outer ends with rectilinear or hexagonal parts 14 for. the convenience of the operator in dismantling or assembling a unit' and that there are no small screws or the like to be removed before access to the mechanism may be attained. After screwing the pressure chambers home, they ma be suitably marked and removed and then rilled to provide air passa eways 19 communicating with the control orifices 6 so that air entering the device shall gain access to the pressure chambers. If desired the flanges 16 may be formed with a plurality of closely spaced openings 19 so that the lengths of the passageways to any particular chamber shall be practically the same regardless of the exact osition of the pressure chamber when final y screwed into osition, it being noted that this relations ip must exist if it is desired that all devices should commence to sound concurrently.

Extending through the pressure chambers 15 and having their ends in contact with the diaphragms 12 are sound tubes or reeds 20 which are preferably formed integral with the sound chambers although they may of course be separate members, if desired. Detachably secured to the threaded portions 21 of the ressure chambers are horns or resonators 2 of any desired shape or size in accordance with the tone which is desired to give the whistle. v

The operation of the device is well known to those skilled in the art and its exact description is not believed essential to a proper understanding of this application, other than to point out that the flexible metal diaphragms in effect constitute valves for automatically regulatin the passage of air through the sound tu es when the pressure in the pressure chambers is sufiicient. to effect flexing of the diaphragms against the air cushions or bufiers within the recesses 13. The pressure in the pressure chambers immediately drops and the diaphragms commence to communicate a rapid vibration of air columns within the bells or resonators.

It will be readily apparent from the above description that with a device of the character outlined a plurality of whistle orhorns may be installed in a ver limited space without the necessity ofuti izing reducin nipples or a large amount of piping, an that with this construction it is possible to remove any device for replacement of a diaphra m without dismantlin or disconnectmg t 1e air supply lines or t e like.'-' It .will be also noted that with a construction as shown in the application, the orifices 6 ositively limit the entr of air in accor ance yvith the-pressure wit in the line and the resistance of the diaphragms. The devices are therefore preferably constructed to fit a predetermined pressure and are'consequently self-regulatin after installation.

From the a ove description it will be apparent that I have produced a device possessing the features of advantageset forth as desirable in the statement of the object of the invention, and which may be modified in minor particulars without departing from the principle of construction and mode of operation involved orfromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. A body for fluid-pressure actuated sound producing devices comprising a member formed with a securing base adapted for attachment to a sup ort, a nipple for attachment to a source of compressed fluid supply, a plurality of diaphragm seats, and-a plurality of air supply passageways ofequal length.

2. A body for fluid-pressure actuated sound producing devices comprising a member formed with a securing base adapted for attachment to a support, a nipple for attachment to a source of compressed air supply, a pair of oppositely facing diaphragm seats, an air passageway communicating with said nipple, and a pair of oppositely extending passageways of equal length communicating with said air passageway.

3. A fluid-pressure actuated sound producing device comprising a base adapted for at- I tachment to a support and provided with a diaphragm seat, a pressure chamber detachably secured to said base, a diaphragm on said seat, a sound tube extending through the pressure chamber and having, its end in contact with the diaphragm, a passageway connecting the pressure chamber and the base, 55nd a fluid supply tube connected to said ase. V

4. A fluid-pressure actuated sound producing device comprising a base adapted for attachment to a support and provided with a diaphragm seat, a diaphragm on said base seat, a pressure chamber ,detachably secured to said base and holding the diaphragm on its seat, a sound tube extending through the pressure chamber and having its end in contact with the diaphragm,

a passageway connecting the pressure chamber and the base, and a fluid supply tube connected to said base.

5. A fluid-pressure actuated sound producing device comprising a base adapted for attachment to a support and having a pair of opposed detachably mounted pressure chambers, said base and chambers being connected by passageways, a fluid supply tube connected to said base passageway, a diaphragm in each pressure chamber, and a sound tube projecting through each pressure chamber and in contact with the diaphragm thereof. I

6. A fluid-pressure actuated sound producing device comprising a base adapted for attachment-to a support and having a pair of opposed detachably mounted pressure chambers, said base and chambers being connected by passageways, a fluid supply tube con- 1 nected to said base passage-way, a diaphragm in each pressure chamber, and a sound tube formed integrally with said pressure chamher and projecting therethrough and in contact with the diaphragm thereof.

7. A fluid-pressure actuated sound producing device comprising a base adapted for at tachment to a support and having a pair of opposed pressure chambers in threaded relation with the'opposite sides thereof, said base and chambers being connected by passageways, a fluid supply tube connected to said base, a diaphragm in each pressure chamber, and a sound tube projecting through each pressure chamber and in contact with the diaphragm thereof.

8. A fluid-pressure actuated sound producdevice comprising a base adapted for attachment to a support and'having a pair of opposed pressure chambers in threaded relation with the opposite sides thereof, said base and chambers being connected by passageways, a fluid supply tube connected to said base, a diaphragm in each pressure chamber, and a sound tube formed integrally with said pressure chamber and projecting therethrough and in contact with the diaphragm thereof.

9. A fluid-pressure actuated sound producing device comprising a base ada ted for attachment to a support and provided with a pair of opposed diaphragm seats, a diaphragm received on each of said seats, a pair of pressure chambers detachably connected .to the base, sound tubes projecting through said pressure chambers and in contact with the diaphragms, and connections to supply fluid to saidpressure chambers.

10. A fluid-pressure actuated sound producing device comprising a base adapted for attachment to a support and provided with a pair of opposed diaphragm seats, a diaphragm received on each of said seats, a pair of pressure chambers detachably connected to the base and securing the diaphragms in position, sound tubes projecting through said pressure chambers and in contact with the diaphragms, and connections to supply fluid to said pressure chambers.

11. A fluid-pressure actuated sound producing device comprising a base adapted for attachment to a support and provided with a pair of opposed diaphragm seats having a chamberrearwardly thereof, a diaphragm received on each of said seats, a pair of pressure chambers detachably connected to the base and retaining the diaphragms in position, sound tubes projecting through said pressure chambers and in contact with the diaphragms, and connect ons to supply fluid to said pressure chambers.

12. A body for fluid-pressure actuated sound producing devices comprising a member formed in its face with an annular seat adapted to receive the end of apressure chamber, and a diaphragm seat concentrically of, spaced from and circumscribed by-said first-named seat.

13. A body for fluid-pressure actuated sound producing devices comprising a member formed with a base adapted for attachment to a support, an air supply port extending radially of said base; said member being also provided with a seat adapted to receive a. pressure chamber and having an air passageway communicating with said seat and air supply port.

14. A body for fluid-pressure actuated sound producing devices comprising a member formed with a base adapted for attach ment to a support, an air supply port extending radially of said member; said member also being provided with a seat adapted to receive a pressure chamber and an air passageway communicatin with said seat and air supply port, and havmg a diaphragm seat concentrica 1y of, spaced from and circumscribed by said seat.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARLEY E. ANDERSON. 

